Runners pack the starting area for the 2025 Florida Turkey Trot Nov. 27 at foggy Nathan Benderson Park. The race had a record 4,558 participants.
Photo by Jay Heater
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Jake Grewal bought the turkey suit more than a month ago.
After the Sarasota resident ran in the London Marathon in April, he began thinking about what he would do special for the 2025 Florida Turkey Trot at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota on Thanksgiving Day.
So why not dress as a turkey?
He didn't expect the temperature to be in the high 60s at race time.
"I got dressed this morning," he said of putting on his costume. "Oh my God!"
He knew it was going to be a lot hotter than he expected.
"I told everyone I was going to run in it," he said. "So I had to do it."
He did it well. Grewal finished 42nd overall in 19:37.13 and was the first fully dressed turkey to cross the finish line.
Derek Robinson, a 2025 Lakewood Ranch High graduate who now attends Southeastern University, won the overall race in 16:37.45. Eleven-year-old Sterling Howard of Fishers, Indiana was the overall women's winner in 18:13.82.
This year's event attracted a record 4,558 participants between the main 5K race and the kids races that were held before the main event. It took 11 minutes from the time the first runners left the finish line until the last participate began his race.
The race benefits the Nathan Benderson Park Conservancy and the Big Bill Foundation, which has a mission of providing academic scholarships to survivors of childhood cancer.
Mason, Isla, and Knox McGough of Sarasota were enjoying the muffin treats given to runners after the kids races at the Florida Turkey Trot at Nathan Benderson Park.
Photo by Jay Heater
Derek Robinson, a 2025 Lakewood Ranch High graduate, cruises to victory in the Florida Turkey Trot at Nathan Benderson Park Nov. 27. Robinson, who finished in 16:37.45, now attends Southeastern University.
Photo by Jay Heater
Spectators watch runners finish the 2025 Florida Turkey Trot in front of the Nathan Benderson Park finish tower.
Photo by Jay Heater
Fit2Run CEO Parks Robinson takes a photo with Nathan Benderson Park Director of Events Sarah Hartz before the 2025 Florida Turkey Trot which benefits the Nathan Benderson Park Conservancy and the Big Bill Foundation, which honors Parks' late dad, Bill Robinson.
Photo by Jay Heater
Eleven-year-old Sterling Howard of Fishers, Indiana, was the overall women's champ of the 2025 Florida Turkey Trot at Nathan Benderson Park. She finished in 18:13.82.
Photo by Jay Heater
Sarasota's Jake Grewal was the first fully-costumed turkey to finish the 2025 Florida Turkey Trot at Nathan Benderson Park Nov. 27.
Photo by Jay Heater
Runners take their first strides in the 2025 Florida Turkey Trot at Nathan Benderson Park Nov. 27.
Photo by Jay Heater
Mill Valley, California's Max Walsh, 4, leads the pack in one of the kids races at the Florida Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving.
Photo by Jay Heater
Alexandria Tomes, 3, her dad Daniel Tomes, and her brother, Fulton Tomes, 3, came to the Florida Turkey Trot at Nathan Benderson Park from Sanford, North Carolina, because they are trying to participate in a race in every state.
Photo by Jay Heater
Lakewood Ranch's Claire Weaver, Greyhawk Landing's Stephanie Oake, and Sarasota's Joni Citron dress the part for the Florida Turkey Trot.
Photo by Jay Heater
Emma, Jenny and Lila Berning of Creston, Iowa planned a family vacation to Siesta Key that would include a trip to Nathan Benderson Park for the Florida Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving.
Photo by Jay Heater
Sarasota's Brielle, 7, Barrett, 9 months, mom Katie, Adelaide, 9, and Hannah, 10, get ready to run in the Florida Turkey Trot. Katie Tennyson ran in last year's race even through she was pregnant.
Photo by Jay Heater
East County's Jill Eisenbeis was celebrating six years running in the Florida Turkey Trot at Nathan Benderson Park.
Photo by Jay Heater
Sarasota's Lee Grant and Kiki Rofael say they want to bring a more "original" flair to the Florida Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day at Nathan Benderson Park.
Photo by Jay Heater
Laura, John, 3-year-old Lana-Ray, and 5-year-old Arie, find a place in front of the finish tower to stretch before the Florida Turkey Trot. The McCormick family was visiting from Summerville, South Carolina.
Photo by Jay Heater
Sarasota's Chris Necev says he doesn't have any trouble running in the Florida Turkey Trot with a turkey on his head.
Photo by Jay Heater
Bozeman, Montana's Tripp Porter shows off the medal he won for participating in the 4-5 kids run during the Florida Turkey Trot at Nathan Benderson Park.
Photo by Jay Heater
The kids races provided plenty of competition before the Florida Turkey Trot at Nathan Benderson Park.
Photo by Jay Heater
Many of the runners at the 2025 Florida Turkey Trot at Nathan Benderson Park were happy to bring some fun to the event.
Jay Heater is the managing editor of the East County Observer. Overall, he has been in the business more than 41 years, 26 spent at the Contra Costa Times in the San Francisco Bay area as a sportswriter covering college football and basketball, boxing and horse racing.
